Q: How can I get the nutrition I need if fruits elevate my blood sugar level and carbohydrates are bad for me?

A: You can eat a wide variety of fruits while still safely maintaining your blood sugar. The total amount of carbohydrates you are consuming affects your blood sugar more than the source of the carbohydrates does. It is true that some fruits contain more sugars (and therefore carbohydrates) than others. As long as the serving size of fruit contains 15 grams of carbohydrates, it doesn’t matter if it is high in carbohydrates, or low in carbohydrates. Here are a few examples of fruits with 15 grams of carbohydrates per serving:

½ medium banana

¾ cup pineapple chunks

1 ¼ cup cubed watermelon

1 ¼ cup whole strawberries

For more information about managing blood sugar levels, visit diabetes.org.

The Expert: Wendy Reinhardt Kapsak, MS, RDN, is the President and CEO of the Produce for Better Health (PBH) Foundation. At PBH, she guides the Foundation’s efforts to advance the overall effort of increasing fruit and vegetable consumption.Read Her Full Bio